Product Development Manager (Personal Care And Beauty)

Watershed Consulting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Watershed Consulting is seeking a Product Development Manager for Personal Care & Beauty in Cape Town. In-office role driving new product development across skincare and beauty, connecting retail clients, suppliers, and internal teams to deliver innovative ranges.

You will own end-to-end development from concept to launch, manage timelines, and ensure profitability, while collaborating with R&D, packaging, and production teams.

Qualifications

• Degree or National Diploma in Business, Marketing, Finance, Chemistry/Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 4+ years of hands-on NPD experience in FMCG (personal care or beauty preferred).
• Full lifecycle ownership of product development from concept to launch.
• Strong commercial and numerical acumen with costings and P&L understanding.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with retail buyers and brand owners to deliver upcoming beauty trends and concepts.
• Lead end-to-end NPD lifecycle from briefs to formulation sign-offs and launches.
• Collaborate with R&D and packaging teams to align formulations and packaging.
• Build accurate project costings and margins to hit profitability targets.
• Guide artwork and coordinate with supply chain for samples and production runs.
• Provide post-launch technical support and relationship management.

Skills

NPD

FMCG

Project management

Client liaison

Education

Degree or Diploma in relevant field

Job description

WE'RE HIRING: Product Development Manager – Personal Care & Beauty

Location: Cape Town, South Africa (In-Office)
Industry: FMCG / Personal Care & Beauty Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

Are you an experienced New Product Development specialist with a passion for bringing beauty, skincare, and personal care concepts to life?

We are representing a manufacturer that partners with major retail chains and premier brand owners to formulate and manufacture innovative beauty and FMCG ranges.

The Core Mandate

In this role, you will be connecting retail clients, packaging vendors, and internal teams (including R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, and Production). You will balance three vital pillars: nurturing strong client partnerships, steering multi-project timelines, and maintaining solid commercial profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Strategy & Trend Delivery: Partner with retail buyers and brand owners to present upcoming beauty trends, present concept proposals, and drive ongoing product innovation.
• End-to-End NPD Leadership: Manage project lifecycles from customer briefs, feasibility checks, and tender submissions through to formulation sign-offs, pilot batches, and commercial launches.
• R&D & Packaging Collaboration: Work side-by-side with laboratory chemists to align formulations against customer benchmarks, while sourcing functional and aesthetic primary/secondary packaging from local and global suppliers.
• Financial & Cost Modeling: Build accurate project costings and margin calculations to ensure every new development hits target profitability and aligns with P&L expectations.
• Artwork & Supply Chain Execution: Guide the artwork team on carton and label designs, securing client sign-offs and coordinating smooth handovers to supply chain teams for on-time sample and production runs.
• Post-Launch Client Support: Provide ongoing technical problem-solving, project updates, and relationship management following commercial rollout.

What You Bring to the Team

• Education: Degree or National Diploma in Business, Marketing, Finance, Chemistry/Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Proven NPD Track Record: At least 4+ years of hands‑on product development experience within the FMCG sector. (Prior experience in personal care, beauty, skincare, or haircare is highly advantageous).
• Full‑Lifecycle Ownership: Demonstrated ability to manage the complete end‑to‑end development journey—we are seeking a holistic project lead rather than someone restricted to a single technical, marketing, or account‑management silo.
• Commercial & Numerical Acumen: Solid understanding of unit economics, manufacturing margins, landed packaging costs, and financial P&Ls.
• Relationship & Project Mastery: Exceptional interpersonal skills to handle demanding retail clients alongside the organizational discipline to manage multiple concurrent project schedules.
• Working Hours: 40 hours per week (Monday to Thursday: 07:45 – 16:30 | Friday: 07:45 – 15:15), with flexible start/end time options available.
• Leave: 20 working days annual leave.
• Culture: Flat, highly collaborative environment where your individual contribution directly impacts product innovation and company growth.

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